Edoardo Avato
Biography
Overview
Edoardo Avato is an associate in the Milan office, specializing in Private Equity, M&A, and Corporate Transactions. With over a decade of experience, he regularly advises leading private equity sponsors, multinational corporations, and investment banks on high-profile, cross-border and domestic deals across a diverse range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, financial services, retail and consumer, industrial and manufacturing, and luxury.
Edoardo has a proven track record of structuring and executing complex transactions, helping clients navigate strategic investments, acquisitions, and divestitures in highly competitive and fast-moving markets. His experience spans both public and private M&A, with a particular focus on private equity-backed transactions.
Before joining White & Case, Edoardo worked at a top-tier international law firm and a leading Italian law firm in Milan, where he developed deep expertise in high-stakes corporate transactions.
Milan, Italy
Experience
Corporate and M&A
Trilantic Europe, a mid-market, pan-European private equity investor, in connection with its acquisition of a majority stake in Italian agritech company Diagram Group. The transaction was conducted in partnership with CDP Equity (CDPE), a subsidiary of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti Group. Trilantic Europe and CDPE acquired 83 percent of Diagram Group's shares, with each entity taking an equal 41.6 percent stake.
Equiter Infrastructure II, a fund managed by Ersel AM, in connection with its acquisition of Deenova Group, an Italian company and European leader in providing automation and traceability solutions for hospitals, from HIG Capital. The transaction also involves Amundi Private Equity Italia joining the shareholding structure, in partnership with Deenova's founder Sergio Giglio.
Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners in connection with the mandatory tender offer on all outstanding shares of Salcef Group S.p.A. launched by Salbid S.p.A., a company fully owned by Railbid, for a total value of approximately €534 million. The mandatory tender offer follows the completion of a transaction that involved, among other things, the acquisition by Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners of a 12.2 percent stake in Railbid's share capital.
Ruby Equity Investment S.à r.l. in connection with its joint voluntary public tender and exchange offer with Fnac Darty SA for all outstanding shares of Unieuro S.p.A. This transaction was designed to create a leading entity in the consumer electronics and domestic appliances market across Southern and Western Europe, with combined annual sales exceeding €10 billion.
Battery Ventures in connection with its acquisition of steute Technologies GmbH & Co. KG, a German-based global manufacturer of innovative sensor and control technology for medical and industrial applications. This strategic acquisition aims to bolster steute's growth in providing intelligent sensors, hardware, and software systems for complex industrial and medical applications. The partnership is expected to fuel advancements in automation and safety across various sectors.
I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.p.A. and its controlling shareholders in connection with an investment from BDT & MSD Partners. BDT & MSD Partners acquires its stake from international private equity fund BC Partners. The Vacchi family remains the majority owner of the IMA holding company.
The managers and minority shareholders of the GeneraLife Group, a paneuropean KKR portfolio group active in the healthcare and human fertility business, in connection with its merger with IVI-RMA Group, a medical institution dedicated to assisted reproduction.
Ferretti S.p.A., a leading Italian shipyard, in connection with the acquisition of a branch of business as a going concern including the Wally trademark.*
Phoenix Tower International, a Blackstone portfolio company, in connection with the buyout of Towertel S.p.A., leading Italian tower operator.*
FMC International in connection with the purchase of a portfolio of fungicide molecules from Isagro S.p.A., a key player in the development and sale of chemical products for agriculture;*
ICE S.p.A., an Advent International portfolio company, in connection with the acquisition of ABC Farmaceutici S.p.A., an Italian pharmaceutical company.*
A Japanese multinational cosmetic company in connection with a world licencing and distribution agreement with an Italian luxury brand.*
A leading company operating in the business travel market, in connection with the negotiation of joint venture agreements with its Italian local partner.*
Oaktree Capital Management in connection with the acquisition of a distressed real-estate project in the hospitality sector.*
* Edoardo worked on these matters prior to joining White & Case.
